THE

HISTORY OF RASSELAS,

PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA.

A TALE.

BY

SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

LONDON:

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY OF THE SOCIETY,
GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS; AT 4, ROYAL EXCHANGE
AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1846.

23 JUN 1947

LONDON:

Printed by S. & J. BENTLEY, WILSON, and FLEY, Bangor House, Shoe Lane.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

1

5

9

11

16

18

23

25

30

34

38

42

48

51

2 The discontent of Rasselas in the happy valley

3 The wants of him that wants nothing

4 The prince continues to grieve and muse

5 The prince meditates his escape

6 A dissertation on the art of flying

7 The prince finds a man of learning

8 The history of Imlac

9 The history of Imlac continued

10 Imlac's history continued. A dissertation upon

11 Imlac's narrative continued. A hint on pilgrimage

12 The story of Imlac continued

13 Rasselas discovers the means of escape

14 Rasselas and Imlac receive an unexpected visit

15 The prince and princess leave the valley, and see

16 They enter Cairo, and find every man happy

17 The prince associates with young men of spirit and

21 The happiness of solitude. The hermit's history

22 The happiness of a life led according to nature

66

68

77

79

81

23 The prince and his sister divide between them the

work of observation

24 The prince examines the happiness of high stations

25 The princess pursues her inquiry with more diligence

than success

26 The princess continues her remarks upon private life 84

27 Disquisition upon greatness .

28 Rasselas and Nekayah continue their conversation

29 The debate of marriage continued

30 Imlac enters, and changes the conversation

88

91

95

100

31 They visit the pyramids

32 They enter the pyramid

33 The princess meets with an unexpected misfortune

34 They return to Cairo without Pekuah

35 The princess languishes for want of Pekuah

36 Pekuah is still remembered. The progress of sorrow

37 The princess hears news of Pekuah .

42 The opinion of the astronomer is explained and justi-

fied.

140

43 The astronomer leaves Imlac his directions

. 142

CHAP.

44 The dangerous prevalence of imagination

45 They discourse with an old man

46 The princess and Pekuah visit the astronomer

47 The prince enters, and brings a new topic

48 Imlac discourses on the nature of the soul

49 The conclusion, in which nothing is concluded